Masked Fruiteater
Pipreola pulchra
Chunky green bird with a broad, blunt bill. Males have a bright orange bill, a blackish face, a yellow-orange necklace that bleeds into the breast, and a yellow lower belly; females are nearly entirely green with faint streaking below and a dull orange bill. Notice the females’ dull olive legs and streaked, not scaled pattern underneath, which distinguish it from the similar, orange-legged female Scarlet-breasted Fruiteater. Perches inconspicuously in the mid-story of humid montane forest, where it is often found around fruiting trees and occasionally joins mixed-species flocks.
Identification
At 17 cm (7 in), the masked fruiteater is a medium-sized fruiteater. Both the sexes are bright green above, with a yellowish iris, coral-coloured beak and grey legs. The male has a black face and upper throat, a bib-like orange lower throat, mottled green flanks and a yellowish belly. The female lacks the mask and bib, and its underparts are green streaked with yellow. This bird could be confused with the scarlet-breasted fruiteater (Pipreola frontalis), but that species has pale tips to the tertial wing feathers, the male has a scarlet throat but no collar, and the female has a yellow upper throat and unbarred breast.<p>The voice is a very high-pitched whistle "tseeeeeeeweee". The call note is a rising "tsweet".
Taxonomy
- Scientific name
- Pipreola pulchra
- Authority
- (Hellmayr, 1917)
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Cotingidae
- Genus
- Pipreola
Range and habitat
The masked fruiteater is endemic to Peru. It occurs on the eastern side of the Andes Mountains at altitudes of between 1,600 to 2,400 metres (5,200 to 7,900 ft) where its natural habitat is montane forests.
- Migration
- Resident species
Conservation
- Population trend
- declining
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
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